Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: 14. The Youngest Daughter of the Swordsmanship Clan (3)
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"Then please help me."
Lucia accepted my proposal without a moment's hesitation.
"...Do you know who I am?"
Lucia nodded calmly and explained.
"I saw you talking with the prince earlier."
So that's why she thought I was worth helping.
A proposal from someone who could converse with the prince wouldn't be empty words.
She'd made a snap judgment in that short instant.
"And the princess greeted you so deferentially."
"...In that case, we'll skip the formalities. But I can't just help you blindly."
"What do you want from me?"
"It's not so much a demand..."
I'd latched onto her due to Memory Correction, but I still didn't know who this woman really was.
Was she truly a superhuman bearing Lorenzo's bloodline?
If so, why had she hidden it?
How had she survived while the entire Fiore family was wiped out?
Did she have some connection to the murderer?
More fundamentally, was she talent worth recruiting?
There was a lot I needed to learn.
"For starters, I'd like to see your skills."
"I see."
The tournament was tomorrow, and registrations closed tonight.
So I had time to check her out.
Separately from that, the receptionist's face—who had sharply rejected Lucia earlier—stiffened awkwardly.
She must have overheard my conversation with the prince too.
Not just her; others who'd caught that exchange were now throwing curious glances our way.
I hadn't expected to draw this much attention here...
"Shall we move somewhere else?"
"Let's."
*
I moved to a spacious training ground with Lucia.
It was behind the arena where the tournament would be held.
Not that it was hidden or anything.
There were quite a few others training besides us.
But the space was wide enough to keep our distance.
"How should I prove myself?"
Lucia picked up a sword and asked.
It was a blunted training sword.
Shaped like a sword, but essentially an iron club.
I grabbed one just like it and replied.
"I'll check personally."
"...You're serious?"
"I'm a former hero. It'll be fine."
The class Lucia was entering was for 'F- to D-rank heroes or equivalent superhumans.'
So sparring her directly wouldn't be an issue for me.
"Got it."
Her decisions were quick, which was good, but hard to read her thoughts.
"By the way, have you ever sparred with anyone else? Or, say, how long you've trained?"
"Hmm... I don't have much to tell you there. I've been a superhuman for about fifteen years? But I haven't trained much. Sparred... once?"
I got a rough estimate.
Someone with no ambitions as a superhuman at first, who started training late.
"Understood."
Lucia immediately pointed her sword at me.
High stance, sword raised to head level.
She slowly closed the distance, then slashed diagonally downward.
I blocked it head-on, without parrying or dodging.
Lucia hooked her sword, flicked it upward, and reset to high stance.
Left high to right high.
This time, a deeper downward slash, flowing naturally into low stance.
Textbook Fiore swordsmanship.
Transitions between stances seamlessly blending offense and defense—a rigid, restrained sword path.
The opposite of Kaily's fluid, elegant style.
In a way, it made sense.
Lorenzo had systematized everything into what could be called 'swordsmanship.'
Kaily hadn't.
She just swung and thrust as she saw and felt.
The result of seeking out strong foes, fighting, killing, and absorbing whatever suited her.
Clang! Grind!
The swords clashed with a sharp ring.
I focused solely on defense and evasion, not attacking.
Clumsy. Stiff.
Not the refined rigidity unique to Fiore swordsmanship.
Both body and technique were sorely lacking.
Her distance sense was good—no wild swings into empty air—but that was it.
'But somehow... she looks frustrated.'
This frustration felt different from mere inexperience.
"Hah... huff...!"
Lucia's breathing grew noticeably ragged after just a few swings.
It was frustrating even for me, just watching.
Challenging a duel tournament with stamina like this was surprising enough; that a superhuman's body could degrade this much was even more so.
Superhumans weren't immune to disease, but they had extreme resistance.
What the hell had she done to her body...?
"Stop."
The moment I spoke, Lucia halted.
Sweat poured off her like rain.
Her hand, brushing back her damp hair, was gaunt; bandages wrapped not just her hand but her entire arm.
And that wasn't all.
The bandages on her face were stained red and yellow.
As if pus or discharge seeped beneath.
"Hic... ngh..."
Lucia breathed with uncomfortable gasps.
But I hadn't stopped her because of her stamina.
"Are you doing this on purpose?"
"Pardon...?"
"Why aren't you showing your true strength?"
"......"
Lucia's swordsmanship had felt unstable.
There was clumsiness from lack of skill, but it wasn't the whole story.
It was unnatural, like moving in ill-fitting clothes.
Amid those awkward motions, her eyes constantly flickered.
I couldn't read her heart perfectly.
But I could guess from that hesitant gaze.
She wanted something else.
Each time her attack was blocked, she'd show regret, as if other options existed but she couldn't use them.
"I don't know why you're holding back, and I don't know the exact level of the other entrants. But with that half-assed restraint, you won't achieve anything. If you're not serious, I can't help you."
"...You've got sharp eyes."
Lucia acknowledged it curtly.
"You're right. It would be rude not to go all out. It'll take some time to prepare... mind waiting?"
...Prepare what?
"Go ahead."
"Yes."
Her tone was serenely detached.
Yet she spoke her mind and judged quickly.
Unique, if anything...
I watched Lucia prepare.
Up close, her black hair had a dark purple sheen.
Her purple eyes were dark too, closer to grape.
...Grape?
Vivian and Helena came to mind for some reason.
I pictured Lucia lined up with them.
Strawberry, orange, grape...
...What is this, a fruit basket?
Lucia panted heavily even lifting a single sword, steadily finishing her preparations.
One two-handed sword, two one-handed swords, one large round shield to cover her torso, one buckler slightly larger than a fist.
A long halberd, two hand axes, one dagger for great gauntlets, four throwing daggers.
Belts on thighs and forearms crammed with gear.
...What the hell is this chaotic loadout?
No clue.
With her poor stamina, could she even wield all this?
It looked burdensome just carrying it.
"Hoo..."
Lucia, laden with weapons, seemed barely able to stand.
She then pulled a pill from her pouch and swallowed it.
No way—drugs?
"Aren't drugs banned by the rules?"
There were hallucinogens or stimulants to mask poor stamina or condition.
Fine in dungeons or on the front lines, if you chose.
But not here.
I didn't want someone reliant on drugs anyway.
"Ah, it's not that kind."
Lucia touched the bandages on her face.
"Painkillers."
I got it immediately.
Her bandages were already soaked red, uncomfortably so.
"We've already checked the ingredients and dosage."
"Well, if that's the case."
What kind of life requires carrying painkillers...?
"Hooo..."
As the medicine kicked in, Lucia's breathing eased.
"Here I go."
She gripped a hand axe and shield, lowering her stance.
Preparing a charge?
No high expectations after our prior exchanges.
Just show everything she had.
Why she was the sole survivor.
Why Lorenzo hid her.
I wanted to know—
Bang!
"What..."
Something flew at me; no time to think, I thrust out my sword to block.
It filled my entire view—a shield.
The one Lucia held.
Whoosh!
A throwing sound.
Followed by—
Thud!
Kicking off the ground.
The shield still hung where it collided with my sword.
Too short a moment for me to even deflect it.
'Blind with the shield, then ambush?'
Tricky tactic, uncharacteristic of Fiore.
Below or behind.
My sharpened senses picked it despite not seeing—sound predicted.
'Below.'
Something sliced air toward my ankle.
I shoved the shield aside and back-tumbled far away.
Scrape!
Halberd tip grazed where I'd stood.
Not even aiming to cut or stab.
Hooked the blade behind my heel to yank me down.
"Suddenly so different..."
In that instant—
She gripped the halberd two-handed.
One hand axe at her waist.
She'd prepared two.
The first one?
That throwing sound earlier...
I stopped thinking and immediately retreated.
Right after, a hand axe dropped from above onto my spot.
'Predicted and prepped it?'
As I dodged, Lucia raked the ground with the halberd blade, spraying sand.
Yellow dust shrouded her.
Just before it hid her, she was in javelin stance.
'Crazy...'
Whoosh!
Halberd pierced the sand cloud's center in a circle.
I sidestepped; Lucia burst from the dust.
Crunch!
I reflexively blocked her two-handed swing.
Nothing like before.
No concern for sword techniques, paths, stances.
Brutally savage.
Yet faithful to basic swordplay.
No clumsy trades; she gauged power and balance, seeking openings.
Lucia twisted suddenly, releasing one hand.
Our precarious balance crumbled.
In slowed perception, I could have countered.
But curiosity won—what came next if I followed her flow?
I feigned a stagger; a fist flew in.
I ducked low; something snagged my nape.
'Hand?'
Hands free, Lucia grabbed my neckline.
Pulled my lowered head into a knee strike.
Unhesitating boldness—dropping weapons mid-fight.
Smack!
Palmed it away and retreated.
Lucia pressed on.
Threw two thigh daggers to buy time.
'Empty hands calculated too...'
Sword tossed mid-air; caught it as I deflected daggers.
She charged, sword regripped.
Clang!
Sparks flew; her gaze remained eerily calm.
Breathing ragged from exertion, yet eyes coldly serene, locked on me.
I tested her with a counter.
Deflected her thrust aside, yanked hilt up to expose my blade.
That instant—
Her eyes moved precisely, swiftly.
Scanned my shoulders, gaze, sword.
'Wow...'
Beyond a certain realm, you could split a second.
Perception slows; eyes and body sharpen, sensing time finely.
0.1, 0.2, 0.3... to 1.
Grasping those slivers lets you move in a different time flow.
Further, splitting 0.1 transcends human limits.
A realm I could never reach.
0.01, 0.02... to 0.1.
Aggregating to 0.2, 0.3... 1.
Not for anyone.
Requires extreme talent and training.
And now, I glimpsed that transcendence.
Splitting a second infinitely, then its fragments again—perceiving, using them.
Lucia judged in that flicker, leaning out to shove my sword.
My counter dismantled, naturally.
'Not anticipation—raw physicality to read and dismantle on the spot...'
Finally, Lucia stepped back, catching her breath.
Exposed.
Pure curiosity.
What if I managed this absurd talent?
How far would she grow?
What form?
With little training, one prior spar... this level.
Reminded me of first meeting Kaily.
Most selfish, overwhelming talent in the monstrous 1st Hero Party.
So selfish that seeing her in the 3rd round felt hollow.
Reaching that height without proper training or management.
Yet connected to her 2nd round feats, it made sense.
Output to reshape terrain with swings; technique.
Body to clear mobs with a breath.
'Yeah... had to acknowledge it.'
This was the baseline.
Only this could claim first of the Thirteen Evils.
I thought that then.
The Thirteen Evils that upended the world—its first.
Post-war 2nd round, opener of hero-villain era.
Terrorized all as villain.
Adored all as hero.
First Evil: Kaily.
The seed evoking that first encounter with the 'Arrogant Hypocrite'...
Was before me now.
"Hoo..."
Lucia reset her stance; I tensed.
Talent on par with Kaily, or beyond.
But different flavor.
Kaily's: explosive power bursts.
Lucia's: not raw strength—maybe condition—but razor senses, combat sense, complex feints as strengths.
The moment Lucia kicked off—
Thud!
She faceplanted forward.
"...Lucia?"
What?
Tactic?
Playing dead?
After what I'd seen, no letting guard down.
Cautiously approached, tapped her side with flat blade.
No reaction.
"What the..."
Breathing audible.
If feigning, she'd hide it; judging so, I sheathed weapon and flipped her.
Face revealed: nosebleed streaming, passed out.
Body overwhelmed.
"...Unbelievable."
No choice; hoisted her on my back.
Couldn't leave her.
Fiore estate would have family or servants.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was a memory from some day.
'What is this? This motley technique.'
Ian had taught Kaily a skill.
One I couldn't fully master myself, ill-suited to her swordsmanship.
'What else? To keep you from dying.'
'Your bullshit's getting thicker by the day.'
'Don't get cocky.'
'Piss off.'
Days like that.
"......"
And Kaily had just tested that technique after ages.
Motley, somewhat crude.
Mana flow felt more awkward now; she hated it more.
Cavern wall shattered on sword aura clash, even pierced sharply.
"Who said anything about dying... You, weaker than me..."
Kaily leaped once, yanked the magic stone, landed.
Others' awe at her skill? Irrelevant.
Not pleased by their gazes.
Ian kept popping into her head.
Infuriating.
"Fuck..."
And Kaily came here, intoxication unburned off.
Pathetic, herself.
'Kill that guy... would it help?'
Didn't know where, but could find if wanted.
But then, could she really kill him?
After hesitating so many times.
"......"
Kaily drowned the answerless doubt in drink.